[2] The flight crew consisted of captain Dmitry Danilovich Afanasyev, first officer Vladimir Ivanovich Baburin, navigators Alexander Vasilievich Klimakhin and Anatoly Viktorovich Rozhkovsky, and flight engineer Anatoly Mikhailovich Shaforost; three flight attendants (Leonid Ivanovich Korytko, Alla Valentinovna Gryaznova, and Maria Petrovna Faraponova) were stationed in the cabin.

Witnesses noticed the left engine of the aircraft on fire about 15 kilometres (9 mi; 8 nmi) from the airport.

The aircraft hit the ground at an angle of 28° with a roll, at a speed of 150–190 kilometres per hour (93–118 mph) and rotated 200-210° with respect to the runway axis.

The rear of the fuselage with the tail assembly was pushed back 18 metres (60 ft) and not burned in the fire.

The fire increased upon slowing down to land due to a decrease in the air flow, damaging the controls.